Ness Information Service Nessletter

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Ness Information Service Nessletter, No 91, dated December 1988, focuses on recent sightings and historical theories related to the Loch Ness Monster. The publication, with ISSN 0264-7001, is priced at £2.75 for UK subscriptions and $9.00 for USA subscriptions.

Sightings and Eyewitness Accounts

The newsletter begins by detailing a letter from Betty Gallagher of the Loch Ness Centre, who shared a communication from Geoffrey Halton of Leeds. Halton proposes a historical theory that the Loch Ness Monster myth might be a diversionary tactic related to the disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion, suggesting their remains could have been dumped in the loch.

A reported sighting by Neal Stevenson of Stoke-on-Trent on October 25th, 1988, is recounted. While standing on the castle tower near Inverness, Stevenson observed a rounded black shape causing a ripple effect on the water, followed briefly by a thin neck and small head. He was with a couple who unfortunately missed seeing the phenomenon.

Erik Beckjord, who was at Loch Ness, reported three sightings from late August in the Urquhart Bay area. These included a seven-year-old boy who saw a tail, hump, and head-neck, and a 14-year-old boy who described a twenty-foot hump with a long neck. A staff member at Urquhart Castle also reported seeing a hump.

Beckjord also shared details about a sonar detection by Skipper John Galbraith and his crew on the trawler Sapphire in Foyers Bay on September 2nd, 1988. They picked up a large 'Red blob' at a depth of 700 feet, described as a large, moving, living mass about 100 feet in length. Adrian Shine of the Loch Ness Project called this a 'very interesting' and significant echo.

Historical Theories and Research

Geoffrey Halton's theory about the Ninth Legion is presented as a unique perspective, suggesting that the 'voodoo' surrounding the loch might have been created to obscure the truth about the legion's fate. He humorously suggests using metal detectors in the loch to find potential Roman artifacts.

Ulrich Magin, editor of the BILK newsletter, is featured for his research into historical newspaper records concerning sea serpents and loch monsters. He notes that the first newspaper report concerning Loch Ness is from Ian Milne in the Inverness Courier on August 29th, 1930. Magin concludes that there were likely no monsters in Loch Ness prior to 1930, and that the long-necked sea creature is a modern myth, with earlier accounts referring to goblins, mermaids, or large fish.

However, the newsletter questions Magin's conclusion, pointing out that Nick Witchell's book 'The Loch Ness Story' quotes the Ian Milne sighting from the Northern Chronicle on August 27th, 1930, and that the Chronicle published further letters from people describing experiences dating back to around 1890. This suggests that earlier reports might have been missed by Magin.

Cryptozoology and New Initiatives

Erik Beckjord's ongoing work is mentioned, including his processing of film and stills. He has also been involved in the establishment of The Cryptozoology Museum Project. This museum is planned to open in a large restaurant, TRANCAS, in Malibu, California. Displays will cover a wide range of cryptids, including the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, the Yeti, and various sea serpents and mysterious animals. The museum's approach will be skeptical, zoological, and open to new explanations.

Folklore and Unwritten Stories

Ulrich Magin notes the existence of a large body of unwritten folklore about the loch and its monster. He provides examples of stories heard from locals and tourists, such as a shoal of seals creating a monster illusion, hundreds of eyes seen underwater turning out to be golf balls, and the belief that birds avoid the loch due to fear of the monster. Magin wonders if readers have heard similar stories.

Books and Publications

The newsletter includes a section on 'Books etc.', mentioning 'Big Footnotes', a bibliography by Danny Perez concerning Bigfoot. It also announces an updated edition of 'The Loch Ness Story' by Nick Witchell, which includes a comment from Dr. Denys W. Tucker. Heather Malcolm of the Loch Ness and Morar Project is offering reprints of a paper on their work. The 'Out of Print Book Service' has a new address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently explores sightings, historical interpretations, and the broader field of cryptozoology. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to share their experiences and research while maintaining a critical perspective on evidence. There is a clear effort to connect contemporary sightings with historical accounts and folklore, and to document the ongoing research and initiatives within the cryptozoological community.